Tailor-made
Borneo
Holidays

Borneo's spectacular rainforests are teeming with life. With everything from the endemic proboscis monkey and the rare orangutan, to the critically endangered Sumatran rhino. Hidden away under the towering canopy of ancient trees live an array of unique animals capable of soaring from tree to tree, including flying dragon lizards, giant red flying squirrels and shy flying lemurs. Closer to the buttresses within the jungle undergrowth, you may be lucky enough to spot mouse deer, bearded pigs, clouded leopards, the Bornean bay cat, otter civets or the largest of the ground dwellers, the pygmy elephant.

From the soaring peak of Mt Kinabalu at 13000ft high to the vast caverns deep within the Mulu National Park, the landscapes of Borneo are as remarkable as the wildlife that call them home. It’s a hugely popular destination for adventure travellers, wildlife lovers and eco travellers alike. And for honeymooners looking for a private slice of paradise, Borneo has plenty of wow factor. Families are also well catered for, with easy wildlife viewing at the excellent rehabilitation and conservation centres, and pristine tropical islands dotted off the mainland, perfect for family beach fun. For a real experience of cultural immersion, overnight stays can be arranged at the traditional longhouse dwellings of Borneo’s feared headhunters, the Iban tribes. This unique mix of cultures, religions, languages and cuisines is easily accessible for visitors to explore on any tour to Borneo, and we’re here to help you do just that.

Borneo is the perfect place to travel all year round, thanks to its tropical climate. Temperatures fall between 27 and 32 °C on average, with a humidity of around 80%. Rain is possible every day throughout the year, but don’t let that put you off. November to February marks the so-called “wet season”, but this mainly affects boat links to offshore islands or visibility for divers. It’s also worth noting that during the winter months, wildlife viewing in deeper Sabah can be tricky due to the torrential rains, as the wildlife seeks shelter and can be harder to spot.

The best time to visit Borneo is from May to September, when the days are warm and dry and the sun is often shining. It is peak season, though, so you’ll need to book well in advance, to get in ahead of the common accommodation shortages. 

The best time to visit Peninsular Malaysia is between March and October, when travel throughout the region is at its best. Travelling during January and February, although somewhat wet, is very rewarding due to the significant festivals that take place every year, including Chinese New Year and Thaipusam.

Malaysian Food

Along with the multicultural Malay cuisine found throughout the peninsula, the foods you’ll devour on your journey through Sabah or Sarawak are influenced by the delicious indigenous fare using ingredients found in the wild rainforests. Each tribe has different ways of seasoning, cooking and preparing the fruits of the forest, meaning a food tour around Borneo never gets repetitive. A firm favourite (especially around a jungle campfire) is Bamboo Chicken – chicken, rice and spices sealed in a length of bamboo and cooked near an open fire. Delicious. Rice and noodles are staples for most meals, and you won’t have to go far to find a nasi goreng, laksa or sambal. 

A few typical dishes we recommend trying during your travels include nasi lemak, nasi goreng, wan tan mee, marmite chicken, sateh, carrot cake, dimsum and beef rendang. Or if you fancy something a little more adventurous then keep an eye out for these dishes; Siat or Butod – stir fried sago grubs (a popular protein source in Sabah) or Tuhau (found in interior Sabah) – not a dish but a wild ginger that you will either be a lover of, or a hater of… we’d love to hear your verdict when you’re home! 

Turning to something a little sweeter, Malaysians love the sweet stuff and you’ll find just as many dessert shops, bakeries, candy stores and cake shops as you will local restaurants and food courts. Sweets, known as Kuih, incorporate coconut and palm sugar, combined with sweet and savoury flavours and are seriously delicious. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more familiar, then you won’t have to look far to find waffles, pancakes, ice cream or cakes. 

Drink

Although many people think Malaysia is a dry country, this is certainly not true, and alcohol is available throughout most states easily and cheaply. However, tourists heading to the East of the country should be prepared that prices may be inflated within the resorts. Outside of hotels, alcohol can be a little tougher to find, so you might want to pick up a supply as you head through duty-free. Away from alcohol, there are plenty of local Malay drinks to quench your thirst with; Teh Tarik – Malaysian pulled tea, barley juice, white coffee, longan juice, or an English-inspired tea from the central plantations are all worth a try.

There are no direct flights into Borneo, but you can fly direct to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with British Airways or Malaysian Airlines and hop on a connecting flight. Or, fly direct to Singapore with Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Norwegian Air or Virgin Atlantic and simply travel over the border. There are plenty of options to break up the journey and make it as convenient as possible for you, chat to us and we’ll help find the best option for you. For example, you might like to add on a city or beach break in Thailand or Dubai, or a city break in Singapore or Hong Kong.

A host of other airlines, European and Middle Eastern, fly to South-East Asia via their respective hubs, but it’s rare for these to be cheaper or more convenient. However, some do offer more options for those travelling from regional UK airports. We always price up our flight options on a case-by-case basis, making sure we find the best available deals for your trip. If you have any particular preferences for airlines or routes, or are considering upgrading your flights, please let us know so we can include this in your holiday plans.

British nationals don’t need a visa to visit Malaysian Borneo and will normally be given permission to stay for 3 months on arrival. Visas for longer stays or for non-tourist purposes must be obtained from the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission before you travel. For other passport holders, please do check with your passport office for entry requirements.

To enter Malaysian Borneo, your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of departure from Malaysia.

We recommend packing plenty of comfortable, lightweight clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton for your travels in Malaysia and Borneo. The dress code is fairly casual, as in most parts of the tropics, but it’s advisable to cover arms and legs in the evenings to protect yourself against biting insects. A lightweight raincoat and umbrella are a good idea in the rainy season, and an umbrella can also double up as a useful shade from the sun. You’ll want some warm clothing options when visiting the Cameron Highlands, where temperatures can drop considerably thanks to the higher altitude. 

Wearing shorts, short skirts, or other revealing clothing isn’t permitted when visiting religious sites. We also recommend that ladies carry a scarf in case they wish to visit a mosque. 

For travel to Borneo, you’ll need to pack trekking boots or sturdy footwear as well as additional equipment, depending on the activities you have planned.

Borneo is an extremely welcoming country; it really is such a pleasure to explore. The locals are extremely friendly, but it’s worth being aware of some simple things… Smile a lot, remove shoes before visiting a local home, use your left hand to accept objects, ask permission to take photos, don’t kiss in public or sunbathe nude and don’t ever raise your voice – getting visibly angry with people will prove to be totally counter-productive. If you have a problem, remain calm and become increasingly polite, and you will be helped.

As we’re not medical experts, we feel it’s essential you contact your GP regarding vaccinations and other medical requirements for travel to Malaysian Borneo. In addition to such vaccinations as you’d routinely have for living in the UK, further boosters are recommended for Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Polio and Tetanus. If you have visited a country where Yellow Fever is endemic, you will need a certificate of vaccination.

Do talk to your GP first, but it’s worth also drawing your attention to this useful website: traveldoctor.co.uk – an interactive website providing specialist health information for travellers, plus customised lists of travel medicines, vaccines for holidaymakers, global adventure travellers and expeditions.

Malaria is present in pockets of deep hinterland areas of Sabah and Sarawak, and a central area of Peninsular Malaysia. There is low to no risk in Kuala Lumpur, other urban and suburban areas and along the coast.

We believe travel should be a force for good. That means exploring with open eyes, treading lightly, and respecting the people and places that make the world so special. Our code of conduct isn’t about rules, it’s simply a guide to help you travel thoughtfully, ethically, and with care. Because every small choice makes a big difference.

• If you choose to trust us with your holiday, we’ll send you a “Travel Facts” document when confirming your booking. This includes useful facts and travel advice, such as restaurant recommendations, reading tips, basic language information, cultural traditions, climate information, brief historical overviews, and more. We feel that this offers a useful insight and can help you interact with local residents in a more sensitive, well-informed manner. Please do try to take the time to read this information before your visit, it’s worth the time!

• A number of the countries in which we operate holidays are religious societies with a widely observed set of customs. Always respect these norms, particularly when visiting religious buildings.

• To the best of our knowledge, all hotels, lodges, and camps within our portfolio operate stringent measures to minimise water usage. All of our destinations have issues with water supplies to a certain extent, so feel free to raise any possible wastage should you encounter it during your stay, either with the accommodation or with us upon your return.

• Please ask permission before taking photographs of people, and respect their wishes if they are not happy to be photographed. We find that friendly requests and a smile are usually met with a ‘yes!’

• Strive, where possible, to make your own contribution to environmental practices as you travel. This might include minimising your electricity usage, not smoking in protected areas, avoiding coral while snorkelling, and safely disposing of all litter (recycling where possible).

• Where possible, try to purchase from local suppliers. This includes shopping for souvenirs, dining out at restaurants, and booking additional excursions during your free time. In areas where haggling is an accepted part of daily life, don’t be offended if you’re unable to obtain what you perceive as a fair price for an item.

• We emphasise to local suppliers that our clients should never be taken on unsolicited shopping trips, but if this does happen, try to retain your sense of humour, provide a firm refusal to participate and do let us know about it on your return. We pass on all feedback from every trip undertaken with us to our relevant local suppliers, who all share our commitment to travelling with sensitivity.

• Please don’t remove any indigenous items from their natural habitat and attempt to bring them home as a souvenir. This particularly applies to everything from coral, shells, plants and food in the natural world, to cultural artefacts and antiques.

If you’re unsure about anything relating to the above, please feel free to chat to us. Our experts have travelled extensively in the country and will be more than happy to offer their considered advice.